This was me two years ago. I was infuriated and on the cusp of popping back with something unbelievably disrespectful, but thankfully I kept my thoughts to myself.  For one, I knew she might have a point. And two, even though I could probably argue she too had gained a pound or ten, I had been raised with all kinds of home training, and saying anything about her weight would have been out of the question.

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The truth is—I was hurt. Hurt because like so many of us, I still want to impress my family. After all these years, they’re approval still matters most.

Why is that? Why is it so important that we still have their approval?

I’ve concocted two theories, neither of which are grounded in empirical studies, though I’m sure I could uncover some supporting data. Nonetheless – here they are. For one, I think we want to affirm our parents parental efforts. They worked hard as parents and sacrificed on countless occasions. The least we can do is to come home as shinning examples of their (literal) blood, sweat, and tears. We want our parents to know that they didn’t fail. The numerous weekends they spent at our soccer games, dance recitals, or the carpools to after-school programs paid off.  “Look Mama —I made it, and so did you!”

Secondly, in some weird way, perhaps we will always want their affirmation. We were raised wanting to please them, so why should that suddenly change with age? With the same enthusiasm we had running into the kitchen to announce we had made the honor roll, we’ll want to return home for Thanksgiving with an attractive mate, flat stomach and impressive job. Their continued affirmation lets us know we’re on the right path. And after all, couldn’t we all still use some guidance? When it comes down to it, some of us are still the fifth graders who want to hear our family say, “We’re so proud of you!”

We will always need our family’s support. We need them to encourage our healthy eating habits, or to question the latest guy we’re dating.  As many of us begin to start our own families, let’s hope we too can set examples that are worth our children’s life long admiration.

Jovian Zayne is a writer, photographer and occasional radio co-host in New York City.  Read more from Jovian on her personal blog Word Up Haay! Join her on twitter via @jovizi for laughs, encouragement and your daily dose of quick wit.
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Here is a post-holiday action plan to get you feeling back to normal again from our partners at blackdoctor.org:

1. Embrace Those Chores

“Housework is the best way to fit in a workout without even knowing it,” says Shannon Griffiths, group fitness director for Lakeshore Athletic Club in Boulder, Colo. Scrubbing, sweeping, vacuuming … they all burn calories.

Even cooking fires up the calorie furnace, says Griffiths, especially if you’re moving around the kitchen. So put on perky music and boogie down while you bake.

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Don’t sweat. We’ve got your meal plans covered:

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Be stylish on Thanksgiving Day:

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Find out all the essential tools and decor you need for the holiday season!

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Lifestyle:

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No worries, we have searched and found 10 adult holiday drink recipes for you to try at home. Pair the drinks with a meal or pour yourself a cup and snuggle into the couch. Whichever you choose to do, these drinks serve as the right touch to help calm your nerves and relax your mind.

Mocha Nog Punch
(courtesy of Delish.com and marie claire)

10 parts Kahlúa Mocha
5 parts Absolut Vanilla
20 parts Eggnog

Combine ingredients and serve in a punch bowl with a floating ice block.

Hint: Freeze ice with coffee beans for decoration.

Depaz Hottie
(courtesy of Delish.com and marie claire)

1 lb Brown Sugar
2 oz Depaz Cane Syrup
1/4 lb Butter
Pinch of salt
4 oz Fresh Apple Cider
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Cinnamon

Blend the ingredients together and bring to a boil before removing from the heat.

For Individual preparation:

Using the above cocktail base, select an appropriate mug.

Then add:
2 heaping tbs prepared cocktail base
2 oz Depaz Blue Cane Amber Rhum
Approximately 6 oz hot water

Garnish with ground nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.

Homemade Coquito
(courtesy of Delish.com and marie claire)

Coquito is an eggnog-like alcoholic beverage, and a traditional Puerto Rican holiday drink.

28 oz Coconut Milk
2 cups Rum
14 oz Condensed Milk
4 egg Yolks

Place ingredients in blender; blend until well mixed. Pour into a bottle and refrigerate until cold. Serve in small glasses and sprinkle top lightly with nutmeg.

THANKSGIVING FOOD & OUTFITS FOR YOUR PET

G’vine Frost Bite
(courtesy of Delish.com and marie claire)

1.5 oz G’vine Gin
1 coffee spoon of Lemon Pepper Zest
1.5 oz Averna Limoncello

Mix ingredients together with ice.

Merry Christi
(courtesy of Delish.com and marie claire)

2.5 oz Christiana Vodka
2 tbs Hot Chocolate Mix
2.5 oz Milk

Mix ingredients together and garnish with dark chocolate shavings.

Rum Butter Cider
(courtesy of marie claire)

1 oz Grand Marnier
1 oz Bols Butterscotch Liqueur
1 1/2 oz Zacapa 23 Year Rum
4 oz Hot Apple Cider

Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a star anise. Put the first four ingredients in a mug and add the hot cider.

YOUR STRESS-FREE THANKSGIVING MENU

Hot Pumpkin
(courtesy of Cheri Loughlin for Intoxicologist.net)

1 part Hiram Walker
Pumpkin Spice Liqueur
1/2 part Kahlúa
4 parts Hot Coffee
Whipped Cream Garnish

Place ingredients into a mug in the order above. Garnish with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.

Pumpkin Spiced Cider
(courtesy of Cheri Loughlin for Intoxicologist.net)

4 oz Apple Cider
1 oz Simple Syrup
1 oz Pumpkin Puree
1 Cinnamon Stick
1 Clove
2 oz Jameson Irish Whisky
Dash Fresh Ground Nutmeg
Garnish: Cinnamon Stick

Place cider and all ingredients except Jameson Irish Whisky in a pan. Bring to a simmer. Steep for 30 minutes. Add Jameson Irish Whisky. Serve warm or over ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Cinnamon Caramel Apple Cocktail
(courtesy of DrinkSwap.com)

1 shot Goldschlager
1 shot Caramel Liqueur
1/2 glass (chilled) Apple Cider
Pour the shot of Goldschlager in a cocktail glass, fill with 1/2 glass of the chilled apple cider, and add 1 shot of caramel liqueur. Stir to mix.

Serve in a Cocktail Glass

Coffee Nudge
(courtesy of Cheri Loughlin for Intoxicologist.net)

1/3 oz Crème de Cacao
3/4 oz Kahlúa
3/4 oz Brandy
Freshly Brewed Coffee
Whipped Cream

Mix the liqueurs together in a large mug. Fill the rest of the mug with hot coffee, and float a dollop of whipped cream on top. If you like, grate some nutmeg on top of the whipped cream.

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Some tips:

* Wash your hands, utensils and work surfaces before and after handling food.
* Refrigerate leftovers immediately.
* Cold food should be stored at 40 degrees or cooler.
* Very hot items can be cooled at room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to being refrigerated.
* Refrigerate or freeze leftovers in covered, shallow containers. Food will cool faster in shallow containers.
* Date leftovers to ensure that they are not stored for too long

How To Travel With Thanksgiving Leftovers

Here are our top 5 containers:

Crate and Barrel Storage Bowl with Clear Lid

Stackable and perfectly portable, these pint-sized, clear glass bowls are ideal for storing and transporting leftovers.
$1.75 at crateandbarrel.com

Heat ‘N Serve Containers from Tupperware

Store, freeze, microwave, reheat and serve, all in one container.
$17.50-19.50 at tupperware.com

Snapware® Glass Lock Round 13.6-Ounce Storage Container

These snapware containers are perfect for storing food in the refrigerator or freezer. Attractive, stain-proof containers can even be used as serving dishes. Dishwasher safe.
$7.99 at bedbathandbeyond.com

Rubbermaid Produce Saver

Transport your greens in this clear container with separate tray. The tray separates greens from pooled moisture, so the leaves remained crisp.

$9.97 at walmart.com

Sugar Pie Keeper

This airtight container keeps pies from drying out. Use it in the refrigerator or the freezer- your pies keep their shape and stay fresh and tasty.
$8.95 at solutions.com

How To Travel With Thanksgiving Leftovers

We’ve broken it down into main dishes, sides and desserts so you can pick and choose what you want on your menu this year.

Main Dishes:

Butternut Squash Risotto (simplyrecipes.com)
Risotto is a great hearty main dish option for non-turkey eaters out there. This risotto also takes advantage of squash being in season. Just switch out the chicken broth for veggie broth and you’re all set!

Quinoa Mushroom Pilaf (glutenfreegoddess.com)
Quinoa provides a nuttier taste than rice which is great for a special holiday meal. The mushrooms also provide a hearty, meat-like element to the dish.

Vegetarian Lentil Rice Loaf (about.com)
Think meatless meatloaf. Lentils are one of the most nutritious and hearty foods and are perfect for a vegetarian main dish.

Sides:

Kale & Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes (101cookbooks.com)
These mashed potatoes are not only scrumptious but also a tad more nutritious than your plain potatoes. There’s no dairy (so vegans can indulge!) and the kale adds some color and texture to the dish.

Vegetarian Gravy (allrecipes.com)
This recipe is also vegan as well so it’s perfect for those who don’t do dairy or who are lactose intolerant.

Vegetarian Collard Greens (foodnetwork.com)
Sure, greens are best with pork but don’t let your vegetarians suffer without some tasty greens at the table!

Vibrant Tasty Green Beans (101cookbooks.com)
This recipe includes leeks which add some real zing to this simple side dish.

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (theveggietable.com)
Think “twice baked potatoes” when attempting this recipe. Also the skin is included which is full of nutrition!

Vegetarian Stuffing (vegweb.com)
You can do two things with this recipe: stuff in the turkey and then also bake it in a pan for the vegetarians.

Baby Brussels Sprouts With Buttered Pecans (epicurious.com)
Brussels sprouts are the perfect winter holiday veggie and can be cooked a variety of ways. Here’s one that’s especially delicious and hearty for vegetarians!

Stuffed Acorn Squash (dianasaurdishes.com)
You can either include this as a main dish or a side dish for a great seasonal addition to your Thanksgiving meal.

Homemade Dinner Rolls (theveggietable.com)
Impress your guests by ditching the store-bought dinner rolls and bake some from scratch. This recipe is easy. Just prep the dough early in the morning or the night before and then bake away right before you’re ready to serve your feast.

Desserts:

Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake (vegweb.com)
Vegan cheesecakes taste just like (if not better than) real cheesecakes! Save some calories and still feel like you’re indulging.

Pumpkin Pie (theveggietable.com)
This classic is perfect for carnivores and herbivores! Use coconut milk to make it vegan. If you are going to buy store-bought pie crusts, look at the ingredients carefully to make sure there are no animal products (like lard) in them!

There you have it. Try a all or a combo of these recipes and you won’t even notice there’s not a turkey at your table this Thanksgiving!

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Martin – “Thanks For Nothing”
Martin’s crazy relatives (a one-eyed John Witherspoon and a thieving cousin) meet Gina’s put-together parents for the first time.

_

The Cosby Show – “Cliff’s Wet Adventure”
The Huxtables host a large gathering for dinner. Cliff must go to the market in the midst of a terrible storm to gather ingredients for the meal.

5 Hostess Gifts To Bring This Thanksgiving

Living Single – “Thanks For Giving”
Everyone is surprised by Regine’s companion at Thanksgiving dinner-a charming, overweight parcel delivery guy (Heavy D), and the girls believe Scooter has plans to propose to Khadijah.

_

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – “Talking Turkey”
Will’s mom comes to the Banks’ for Thanksgiving. She gets angry that the kids of the house leave all of the work to Geoffrey and orders them to cook the holiday meal that year. It turns out to be a disaster.

The Anti-Housewife’s Guide To Thanksgiving

The Jamie Foxx Show – “A Thanksgiving To Remember”
Jamie’s friend Icepick Issac is a football player who’s in town and staying at the hotel, just in time for the holidays. However, when Jamie finds out that Isaac’s been cut from the team, he tries to keep the news from him.

Happy Holidays!

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Here are 5 great gifts that will have you invited back year after year:

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Here are some ideas for creating the perfect dinner table:

1) Create a sophisticated urban look by adding autumn colors such as orange and earthy shades of green.

2) If you live near a park, collect some fallen leaves to create placeholders for your guests. Write each guest’s name on the leaf with a permanent marker.

3) Create a warm, inviting glow to the table by adding candles in metallic holders.

4) For a unique arrangement, hollow out vegetables like pumpkins, artichokes or peppers, insert a piece of floral foam soaked with water, then insert fresh florals. Or use the vegetables as holders for votive candles.

Bon appetit!

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]]> http://hellobeautiful.com/2180015/how-to-decorate-your-table-for-thanksgiving/feed/ 2 thanksgiving-table deborahbennett http://hellobeautiful.com/1474635/10-cocktail-rings-to-wear-to-your-holiday-party-all-for-under-50/ http://hellobeautiful.com/1474635/10-cocktail-rings-to-wear-to-your-holiday-party-all-for-under-50/#comments Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:45:44 +0000 HelloBeautifulStaff http://hellobeautiful.com/?p=1474635 ]]> The cocktail ring gained popularity during the Prohibition era, showing that not only were you breaking the law by attending an illegal cocktail party, but you were doing so in style.

Luckily for us, socializing in that way is no longer considered taboo, so feel free to rock these rings without any shame!

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Here are some tips:

Wash your hands, utensils and work surfaces before and after handling food.

* Refrigerate leftovers immediately.

* Cold food should be stored at 40 degrees or cooler

* Very hot items can be cooled at room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to being refrigerated. Frequent stirring accelerates the cooling at this stage.

* Refrigerate or freeze leftovers in covered, shallow containers. Food will cool faster in shallow containers.

* An effective way to cool and store hot leftovers is in zipper-type plastic bags. Although the bags must be closed securely for liquids, they cool food quickly because they provide for a large, flat surface area exposed to the refrigerated air.

* Never remove a large pot of food (such as soup, dressing or gravy) from the stove and place it in the refrigerator. Large masses of food can take hours or days to chill properly and provide an ideal environment for the growth of harmful bacteria.

* Store leftovers within two hours of cooking. Discard leftovers if the food has been sitting at a temperature of 86 degrees or higher for more than one hour.

* Date leftovers to ensure that they are not stored for too long

* Do not put the food back into the same container it was in, and never add leftover food to fresh food.

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If you answered yes, you are not alone.

So to help the digestion process along, here are a few ideas from Fit Sugar:

After the meal:

* Drink some tea, both ginger tea and chamomile tea improve digestion. Warm beverages promote digestion in general, so any kind of herbal tea will help.

* Chewable papaya enzyme can help promote digestion as well.

The next morning:

* Oatmeal is high in insoluble fiber, which helps get things moving, if you know what I mean.

* Drink plenty of water to help the body digest and eliminate waste. Insoluble fiber needs water to help it do its magic. READ MORE HERE!

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Don’t sweat. We’ve got your meal plans covered:

Your Stress Free Thanksgiving Menu

A Healthy Thanksgiving Dish: Green Bean Casserole

10 Ways To Spike The Thanksgiving Punch This Holiday Season

Be fierce on Thanksgiving Day:

10 Thanksgiving Day Dresses For Under $100!

10 Cocktail Rings To Wear To Your Holiday Party – All For Under $50!

Find out all the essential tools and decor you need for the holiday season!

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You don’t have to be the typical housewife this holiday season! Here’s how not to!

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Check out these updated soul food ideas for your holiday meal!

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Ingredients:

• 8 ounces whole-wheat lasagna noodles
• 1 pound lean spicy Italian turkey sausage, casings removed (see Variation)
• 4 cups sliced mushrooms, (10 ounces)
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 pound frozen spinach, thawed
• 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes, preferably chunky
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 1 pound part-skim ricotta cheese, (2 cups)
• 8 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 2 cups), divided

Go to Eating Well for directions!

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Thanksgiving Must-Haves

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Here are some tips and tricks for dressing up store-bought products so that they’ll taste and look special to your guests:

Dressing Up Store-Bought Products

Mashed Potatoes

Add punch to frozen or boxed mashed potatoes by:

* Adding some lower-fat sour cream and freshly chopped chives.

* Stirring in some reduced-fat sharp cheddar and turkey bacon bits (cook the turkey bacon until crisp, then break it into bits).

* Stirring in roasted garlic cloves and fresh, finely chopped parsley while you’re whipping up the mashed potatoes with your mixer.

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Stove-Top Stuffing

Instead of following the directions on the box, use 2 tablespoons of butter or margarine to saute some added vegetables (like 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup finely chopped celery, 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, and 1/2 cup finely grated carrot). Then add the seasoning packet and 1 3/4 cups water and bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in bread cubes from the mix, cover and let stand 5 minutes.

GO HERE FOR MORE

The single girl’s guide to Thanksgiving

Pumpkin Pie

You have a few options here. You can buy a premade piecrust (available in the frozen food section or as foldable piecrust in the refrigerated section) and just whip up the pumpkin part. Or you can buy the pie already made at your grocery store or a pie shop, then dress it up with some fun garnishes. If you like to serve your pie with Cool Whip, buy Light Cool Whip and stir in a few pinches of pumpkin pie spice and a teaspoon or two of maple syrup.

Enjoy!

For more holiday ideas from HB click here

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1) Have A Pot Luck

If you and a few of your closest girlfriends are stuck in your town over Thanksgiving why not invite them over for a potluck! This way all the cooking isn’t left up to you and each person can whip up their family’s best holiday recipe to share!

For more on how to organize a potluck click here!

2) Shop Cheap

If you are hosting any type of gathering and you’re a little short on dinnerware, don’t panic! There are great deals going on and great places that have cute and cheap plates and serving dishes! Here’s a few of my favorite places to shop for the kitchen:

UrbanOutfitters.com

Ikea.com

Target.com

3) Look Forward To TV Marathons!

Check out TVGuide.com for the TV listings on Thanksgiving Day to see which of your favorite shows are going to be on all-day marathons!

4) Avoid Alcohol

I know it seems like a great idea to have a relaxing glass of wine with your holiday meal but if you’re alone it might make you depressed. Try going outside and enjoying some energizing activities like taking a walk in the park or a leisurely bike ride. Plus, you’ll burn off some of those Thanksgiving meal calories!

5) Cook A Thanksgiving Dinner For One

If you think cooking a holiday dinner is impossible to do for one person, think again! Here’s how to cook a simple dinner for one AND under $35!!

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Here are our tips for a Thanksgiving meal that won’t have you frazzled and is sure to impress your guests and family.

Cut cook time in half by serving a roasted turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. Keep the stuffing simple and the flavoring ingredients to a minimum.

Click here for the recipe.

A gravy that doesn’t require turkey drippings is another time saver.

This vanilla sweet potato recipe requires only 10 minutes hands-on-time.

Click here for the recipe.

Make a quick cranberry sauce with sugar, cranberries, and water. Substitute brown sugar (preferably dark) in any cranberry sauce recipe. Brown sugar will deepen the sauce’s flavor and color.

Serve one vegetable side in the form of broccoli with a crunchy topping.

Click here for the recipe.

Check out our Top 10 Thanksgiving must-haves:

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From our family to yours, a healthy happy holiday!

When you run to the supermarket, it is for another bag of chocolate-covered pretzels to accompany your late night viewing of “Bridezillas.” You walk past all of the Betty Crockers picking out the biggest turkeys for their Thanksgiving extravaganzas, and head straight to the candy aisle, stopping to pick up a Lunchables for your son along the way. You did not buy fancy twenty-dollar auburn candles for your living room, and there is no welcoming wreath outside of your front door. In your opinion, Doomsday is upon us. Well, worry you not, Anti-Housewife! This is a guide tailored specifically to your domestic shortcomings.

Here are 5 tips to help you deal with the Thanksgiving monster your way, on your terms:

1.) Ladies, Place Your Orders!

Do not let your cooking inabilities rob your family of the classic Thanksgiving sit-down-dinner experience. Find the nearest caterer and place your orders! This is prime time for restaurants to make money, so many places do offer catering for all of us anti-housewives who can’t boil water. Place your orders now to ensure that you can preside triumphantly over a well-roasted turkey on the big day!

2.) Do Not Try To Be Anything You Are Not

If you are not into decorating, do not go out and buy a ton of holiday-themed accoutrements to impress your guests. Doing so will just stress you out. Stick with what you like and normally do. If you like flowers, just opt for a holiday-themed bouquet. Leave the hard work to the florist. If you hate to cook, don’t. Don’t over-extend yourself.

3.) Feel Free To Abandon Tradition

Sure, Thanksgiving is known as the day where families sit down to a meal, and give thanks over caramelized onions and creme brulee. If this is not your ideal way of celebrating the holiday, then ditch it. Opt for a late cocktail party with other friends and toast to the holiday instead of slaving over a giant bird in the kitchen. Its just a holiday; do with it what you will, or want.

4.) Keep Things To A Minimum

Do not feel as though you must invite every single branch, twig and leaf of your family tree to your house for Thanksgiving. Not everyone has to eat at the expense of your sanity. Do not go crazy preparing a meal big enough to feed all 200 of your hungry little family members. Uncle Sammy’s half-brother’s cousin does not need an invite. Keep your guest list limited to those that you really want to be with on Thanksgiving.

5.) Just Give It Your Best Shot

I guarantee that your hubby will not divorce you if your Thanksgiving is a little bit wackier than you’d hoped. He will probably be a little bit amused watching you pull a five-pound mound of burnt turkey out of the smoking oven. Thanksgiving is just one day. You have 364 more to redeem yourself. Take a deep breath and don’t stress.

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They’re not too fancy, but they show you’re in the holiday spirit.

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A Treat For Thanksgiving: Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake

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Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons canola oil, divided
• 1 medium sweet onion, (half diced, half thinly sliced), divided
• 8 ounces mushrooms, chopped
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 cup low-fat milk
• 3 tablespoons dry sherry, (see Ingredient Note)
• 1 pound frozen French-cut green beans, (about 4 cups)
• 1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 3 tablespoons buttermilk powder, (see Ingredient Note)
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Go to Eatingwell.com for directions

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Martin – “Thanks For Nothing”
Martin’s crazy relatives (a one-eyed John Witherspoon and a thieving cousin) meet Gina’s put-together parents for the first time.

_

A Different World – “Faith, Hope and Charity”
Whitley’s mother (Diahann Carroll) shows up for Thanksgiving with a new fiancé whose motives Whitley doubts, while Dwayne’s mother (Patti LaBelle) shows up unannounced; the fighting that ensues leads to the women being hauled off to jail.

_

Girlfriends – “Fried Turkey”
Joan finds herself alone on Thanksgiving after everyone makes other plans for the holiday. After she meets Preston Hall (Duane Martin), a handsome and highly successful attorney, Joan invites him back to her place, but her friends suddenly begin appearing and she can’t seem to get them to leave.

_

The Cosby Show – “Cliff’s Wet Adventure”
The Huxtables host a large gathering for dinner. Cliff must go to the market in the midst of a terrible storm to gather ingredients for the meal.

-

The Jamie Foxx Show – “A Thanksgiving To Remember”
Jamie’s friend Icepick Issac is a football player who’s in town and staying at the hotel, just in time for the holidays. However, when Jamie finds out that Isaac’s been cut from the team, he tries to keep the news from him.

Happy Holidays!

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Ingredients:

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package devil’s food cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tablespoon water

Go to allrecipes.com for the directions

A Treat For Thanksgiving: Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake

Decorate With Candles This Thanksgiving

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Tired of the same old pecan pie? Impress your family with a mix of the familiar but with a new twist. Try making a Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake. It’s a delicious party in your mouth and and everything tasty is invited.

• Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup pumpkin butter
• 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

Directions:

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How? It’s all about small sacrifices combined with specific techniques. And rather than giving you a one-size-fits-all regimen, we figure you’re more likely to stick with the plan if you pick the eating and exercise strategies that fit your lifestyle.

1. Make One Food Sacrifice

Cutting out one indulgence — such as the chips you have with lunch or the chocolate dessert you eat after dinner — can subtract a few hundred calories from your diet, which translates into less flab, says Blum. “Your body won’t even notice their absence.” Replace junk food with one of these tasty treats. They practically melt flab away!

2. Do Cardio 30 Minutes a Day

Any workout that gets your heart rate up will burn calories. But you’ll use more calories if you pick a cardio routine that engages multiple muscles simultaneously.

Three to consider: spinning, cardio kickboxing, and boot-camp workouts. Half an hour of each torches 200 to 300 calories while toning up your arms, legs, and core so everything appears sleeker and tighter.

Add on some of the moves celeb trainers recommend to really see results. You’ll burn even more calories per session if your workout incorporates interval training: alternating short bursts of intense cardio with slower activity. Experts aren’t sure why it works, but trainers swear by it.

3. Ban White Bread and Pasta

Cutting out all white grain products — such as white rice, spaghetti, sandwich rolls — will instantly slim you down because the simple carbs in these foods cause bloating, especially around your belly. “Simple carbohydrates wreak havoc on your weight because they’re digested very quickly, leaving you hungry and more likely to overeat later,” says Jana Klauer, MD, author of The Park Avenue Nutritionist’s Plan.

Fill up on these healthy foods that’ll feed your sex drive. To go a step further, instead of replacing them with healthier yet still bloat-triggering whole-grain bread products, substitute vegetables for the week. This way, a chicken sandwich becomes chicken salad, and chips and dip turn into carrots and dip. The complex carbs from vegetables are digested more slowly, so you remain full longer. And because veggies are mostly water, they also help flush out excess water weight.

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3 ways to work out at home

How To Be A Great Host In A Tiny Apartment This Holiday Season

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1) Notify guests ahead of time about the limitations of your space so that they are not surprised to discover, for example, that your living room and kitchen are one in the same (this is the case in my apartment!). This info will also hopefully inspire the visiting guest to bring fewer items and pack them in a smaller bag.

2) If your guest is allergic to pets, their comfort level will be compromised in a small space and potentially lethal if you have wall-to-wall carpeting. Leave windows open for several days in advance of your guest’s arrival and dust and vacuum the day before and day of arrival. Let severely allergic guests know you will do your best to ensure their comfort level, but he or she might want to have a backup lodging plan in place, and at the very least, bring extra meds.

3) Even if you don’t have guest room, you can set up a guest area. A small apartment usually means there is no official guest room. Still, your guest needs to know where he or she is to put her luggage, get dressed, etc. I have a little section of my bedroom near a window that is large enough for a big suitcase. I also make it clear that the guest should feel free to use my bedroom as a “home base” for getting dressed, etc.

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The woes of living alone

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Here are some tips on how to decorate with candles this Thanksgiving from apartmenttherapy.com:

• Avoid scented candles at a meal. Some people have strong allergic (or just averse) reactions to scented candles, and furthermore you don’t necessarily want the candles’ scents interfering with the aromas of the food.

• Make sure your candles don’t interfere with sight lines across the table. I usually associate this rule with flowers, but of course it’s true for candles too; if your guests have to crane their necks around tall tapers to talk to one another, you might want to move those tapers over to a sideboard.

Dress up your table this Thanksgiving

• Locate candlelight at different angles around the room. Try to do candles in other spots, not just the table; candlelight coming from different directions will add soft light throughout the room. Set up candles on your buffet or bar, in wall sconces, or along a windowsill.

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4 Thanksgiving looks to make you sizzle

Take a look at some table inspirations below:

Thanksgiving Table

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Centerpiece & Place Setting Tips:

• Start with a cream table linens, and add a rich plum-colored table runner made from fabric or scrapbook paper.

• Find exotic-looking dried florals for your centerpieces – such as these cool cream-colored bell cups and autumn-hued fans.

• Embellish your centerpiece vases with bands of ribbon. Try layering a contemporary-patterened ribbon over a wider band of solid ribbon.

• Drape bunches of oversize faux grapes over the edge of your centerpiece vases. If the grapes cause the vase tip over, add rocks or vase filler inside to weigh it down and keep it steady. Place smaller grape bunches along the base of the centerpiece.

• Add fun metallic elements to your table with gold charger plates, vases, and votive holders. If you can’t find metallic vases, try wrapping everyday vases in shimmery gold gift wrap or scrapbooking paper.

• For a pulled-together look, embellish napkins and wine or cocktail glass stems with more of the same patterned ribbon used in your centerpiece.

5 celebs who should be thankful

Want more ideas? Click here.

Take a look at the gallery below for some inspiration:

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4 Thanksgiving looks to make you sizzle

There are certain things that we have all done that make us cringe at the thought or mention of such behavior especially when we have no clue how to make amends. The idea of Thanksgiving is to be with family and friends, to give thanks for all of the blessing in your life. Although there can be a lot of anxiety attached to family functions yet there are some actions, which can be harder to live down.

Today is No Judgments Fridays so here are the 5 ways that you embarrassed yourself and how to make amends:

1) Showed up to a friend’s dinner empty handed. This is really tacky and shows that you have no home training. Fix it: Call and invite the host to dinner as a thank you. Now if they ever need to borrow money, a ride to the airport and/or help painting their house you will be the first call–all because you did not bring a $5 apple pie.

2) Complained about the food and the cook heard: This says that you are the opposite of thankful–ungrateful. Fix It: Call and praise another dish and ask for a tutorial on how to do it yourself. Now you have to sit there through cooking lessons. 

7 Tips For Successful Gold Digging

3)  Discussed someone’s personal business at the dinner table in front of the whole family. This will get you uninvited to the family reunion because you have no filter. Fix it: Take that person to lunch and apologize while revealing that you were taking prescription medication, so you just felt so “loopy” all day.

4) Tried to get with your third cousin, that’s too hot for words: Incest is never a good look. Fix It: Deny, deny, deny and like Jamie Foxx said ‘blame it on the alcohol.’ And never speak of that incident again.

5) Got drunk and Granny had to hold your hair back, while you buried your head in the toilet: This says that you can not hold your liquor. Fix It: When in doubt fault a peanut allergy and just pray that they believe you.

Check out these hot celeb pics on the web:

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5 Celebs Who Should Be Thankful

Did you eat more than you wanted to at your Thanksgiving meal? If you answered yes, you are not alone. So to help the digestion process along, here are a few ideas from fitsugar.com:

After the meal:

* Drink some tea, both ginger tea and chamomile tea improve digestion. Warm beverages promote digestion in general, so any kind of herbal tea will help.

* Chewable papaya enzyme can help promote digestion as well.

The next morning:

* Oatmeal is high in insoluble fiber, which helps get things moving, if you know what I mean.

* Drink plenty of water to help the body digest and eliminate waste. Insoluble fiber needs water to help it do its magic.

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